Kimble, 31, was returning from London, police say, where she had been visiting a new beau. Soon after she arrived in Tampa, she and Rodriguez, 39, started arguing. Investigators are not sure what the fight was about, only that it ended at about 7:45 p.m. in the West Shore area, when Rodriguez punched Kimble several times in the car.

She jumped out of the vehicle, and then, police say, Rodriguez shot her several times. He drove down the street, did a U-turn and shot himself in the head, police say. Both died at the hospital.

Investigators are calling it a murder-suicide and are investigating. Autopsies were scheduled for Tuesday.

Kimble lived in Holmes Beach, and Rodriguez was from Orlando, authorities say, though it appears he recently moved to Kansas City, Mo.

She attended the University of North Carolina, records show, where she made the dean's list.

Friends and family gathered at Kimble's family's North Carolina house Tuesday. They declined to comment, as did Rodriguez's family in Orlando.

Times staff researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3433.